Authors share stories for a greater cause

IF YOU GOWHAT “When New Life Begins” book signingWHERE Delaware Technical & Community College – Terry Campus conference centerWHEN 1 p.m., SaturdayCOST $30 for the program; $12.95 for the bookINFO www.kishhomeinc.org; (302) 399-6477

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By Sarah Barbansarah.barban@doverpost.comTwitter: @SarahDoverPost

Dover Post

By Sarah Barbansarah.barban@doverpost.comTwitter: @SarahDoverPost

Posted Apr. 4, 2013 at 3:45 PM
Updated Apr 4, 2013 at 3:49 PM

By Sarah Barbansarah.barban@doverpost.comTwitter: @SarahDoverPost

Posted Apr. 4, 2013 at 3:45 PM
Updated Apr 4, 2013 at 3:49 PM

Dover, Del.

Everyone has a story to tell, whether is a story of love, loss or triumph.

Several authors have come together and put pen to paper to share their stories with others, in hopes their book will inspire others to overcome, while also benefiting a good cause.

“When New Life Begins” is a compilation of stories co-authored by Ayanna Lynnay, Rodney Davis, Kishma A. George, April Holmes, Letisha Galloway, Iyana Davis and Natasha Simms. Simms, George, Davis and Galloway are locals, while the other authors are from New Jersey.

The stories included in the book range from Galloway’s account of learning to live with a physical disability that required the amputation of her legs as a young child, to Davis’ story of learning he had fathered a child when he was 18 and the subsequent fight to free her from the foster care system.

Copies of the book are being sold to raise money for Kingdom Investments in Single Hearts Homes (K.I.S.H), a non-profit organization that was started by George, who was working as a mentor to foster kids when one boy’s stories motivated her to take action.

“This young guy had aged out of the system,” George said “The day he turned 18 he had to find a place to stay, I drove him around but there wasn’t room in any of the shelters. He told me to just take him to his brother’s work. He slept outside that night.”

The next day she was able to get him into a shelter with the help of a legislator but knowing that someone had no place to go because they had aged out of the system bothered her.

George decided that she wanted to create a home for young women to go when they age out of the foster care. She has a vision of a 24-hour supervised home where girls ages 18 to 23 can go once they age out of the system. She hopes the home can be located in Kent County.

“Youths who age out often end up homeless, incarcerated or with an unwanted pregnancy. They’re still kids and they need guidance,” George said.

George also hopes to provide the girls with mentoring, GED preparation, college entrance assistance, career development and mental health counseling. George is currently in the process of raising funds and looking for a site for the future home.

“This home would give them a place to go, a safe haven, somewhere to help them grow and learn who they are,” said Natasha Simms, one of the co-authors of “When New Life Begins.”

“When New Life Begins” is just one of many fundraising projects that George has undertaken. Previously she put together a play and the group of authors is currently working on publishing a magazine.

Page 2 of 2 - This Saturday the authors will be holding a fundraiser at Delaware Technical & Community College’s Terry Campus, where they will be signing and selling copies of their book in order to raise money for the transitional housing. The event will also feature guest speaker Joyce Dungee Proctor, who is a motivational speaker, musical guests, vendors, giveaways and a red carpet. Each author will also take a little time to share their story. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at Beauty Max in the Rodney Village Shopping center. Copies of the book will be $12.95. The event will start at 1 p.m. at the Dover campus’ conference center.